Sustainable Asian Inspired Beauty Products

As Asian consumers become more aware of healthy and natural beauty products, skincare companies are stepping up their beauty game to keep up with the change in the market. Here are 3 brands that offer toxin-free and chemical-free beauty

Natural skincare products by Allies of Skin.

Sheet masks, snail slime, blotting papers – Asia has no shortage of beauty trends and cutting-edge ingredients that have taken the world by storm. One area where it has been lagging behind, however, is the development of non-toxic, chemical-free skincare brands.

While Australia and America have been pioneers in this category, there is still a big gap for home-grown Asian brands that truly personify the idea of “clean” beauty.

“Growth has been slow because of education. Too many people think that natural products are ineffective, which is a major barrier. Then you have the products themselves – many Asian-based brands I have tried so far haven’t delivered in terms of results,” says Brenda Lee, founder of Beyorg Organic, a Hong Kong based retailer that specialises in natural skincare.

Mitti face mask from Purearth.

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That’s not to say that tides are changing. As the consumer becomes more concerned with wellness, which covers everything from meditation to organic food, skincare is set to be the next step in the evolution.

Asia, like every other region, has specific skincare concerns and demands, be it lightweight, highly absorbable or stain proof formulasCharlotte Chen, founder of Everyday

“We’ve seen a real shift in customers and how they want to experience beauty. It’s not just about big brands, and social media platforms have built awareness about alternatives. Customers want to explore new products, especially grouped around wellness, and skincare is a part of it,” says Lianna Mann, vice-president of beauty & well-being at Lane Crawford.

With its abundant resources and history of natural medicine, Asia could easily position itself as the new hotspot for organic skincare. The region is home to countless pure ingredients, including tea (LVMH has used a special Chinese tea for its first in-house brand Cha Ling) and precious oils such as rose and sea buckthorn to marine ingredients such as kelp and konjac.

Asia-based beauty giants such as Amore-Pacific are continually developing new technologies and innovations for international conglomerates, so there’s no reason why home-grown brands can’t harness this.

“Although Snow Fox’s key ingredients come from Australia (except for the cherry blossom from Japan), our products are made in a lab in Taipei, Taiwan, where they have a proprietary technology that allows us to keep our masks and bottles fresh without having to add synthetic preservatives. It’s the Asian technology that makes the difference,” says Phoebe Song, founder of Snow Fox.

“Asia, like every other region, has specific skincare concerns and demands, be it lightweight, highly absorbable or stain proof formulas. Climate plays a huge role and products developed here will be able to take into account factors such as humidity and the Asian lifestyle. This will eventually give us an edge,” says Charlotte Chen, founder of Everyday.

Here are five toxin-free Asian skincare brands to try:

1A Overnight Mask by Allies of Skin.

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Allies of Skin

This beloved Singaporean brand was founded in 2016 but has already reached cult status thanks to its series of specialised masks. A bout of teenage acne inspired founder Nicolas Travis to launch this range of multitasking products which are not only free of toxins, but dermatologist-tested and non-comedogenic.

The brand’s first and star product is the 1A All Day Mask, a leave-on treatment for men and women, designed to work under make-up and sunblock. New additions include a blemish treatment, double-duty cleanser-masques and overnight facial, plus a rose-infused mist.

The products combine the natural actives with technology – every formula undergoes rigorous clinical testing before going to market – so expect trademarked complexes and nourishing ingredients such as purifying moringa and Indian ginseng.

alliesofskin.com

Dam Dam’s skincare range.

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Dam Dam

Launched in Japan late last year by former magazine editor Giselle Go and entrepreneur Philippe Terrien, this tightly edited line of five products is free from such nasties as parabens, synthetics and petrochemicals.

The no fuss collection is perfect for city dwellers, with formulas that have been developed to reduce environmental stresses on the skin, thanks to pollution-fighting ingredients sourced in Asia and finished in Japan. Highlights include the Magic Drops, a lightweight, silky serum that is charged with avocado oil, jasmine and bitter orange leaf oil, to form a protective barrier on the skin.

damdamofficial.com

Corpore Sanctum’s skincare range.

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Corpore Sanctum

Launched in UK late last year by former Beauty Entrepreneur Ross Bey a, this fun line of seven products is free from such nasties as parabens, synthetics and petrochemicals.

Bridging the gap between Asian & Western Beauty values, each product use organically sourced ingredients and abide by its 0 single-use policy. Highlights include their Best-selling Pore Minimising Mist (in that adorable Bunny Bottle) packed with Vitamin C and Organic Aloe Vera Juice.